Russia‘s aviation giant Sukhoi signed a preliminary agreement with Iran to sell Superjet 100 planes.
According to Interfax news agency, the agreement, which was signed with an unnamed Iranian company, enables both sides to study the projected sales.
The news agency quoted an unnamed Russia aviation official as confirming the development. The official added, however, that the agreement was still not binding.
Russia’s aviation giant Sukhoi signed a preliminary agreement with Iran to sell Superjet 100 planes.
Head of Iran’s Aseman Airlines Hossein Alaei had earlier said his company was negotiating with Sukhoi as well as several other leading global plane makers to renovate its fleet.
He added that Sukhoi had conducted trial flights of Superjet 100 last week in Tehran, which, he said, was carried out at the invitation of Aseman Airlines.
Last Sunday, an Iranian aviation official said that the country’s airlines were planning to open plane purchase talks with Sukhoi.
Maqsoud Asadi-Samani from Iran‘s Aviation Companies Association was quoted as saying that Iranian airlines were specifically considering the company’s Superjet 100 (SSJ100) aircraft.
Sukhoi Superjet 100 is a modern fly-by-wire twin-engine regional jet with up to 108 passenger seats. With development initiated in 2000, the airliner was designed and spearheaded by Sukhoi — a division of the Russian civil aerospace company (UAC) — in cooperation with several foreign partners, according to Mehr News Agency.
Designed to compete internationally with its An-148, Embraer E-Jet and Bombardier CSeries counterparts, the Superjet 100 claims substantially lower operating costs
Iran signed preliminary agreements with Russia’s Gazprom on Tuesday to develop two major oilfields in the latest of a flurry of deals with foreign firms, local media reported.
The deals open the way for Gazprom to carry out studies at the Cheshmekosh and Changouleh fields near the border with Iraq, according to the Shana news agency, which is linked to the Oil Ministry, AFP reported.
That adds to five other oilfields that have already been earmarked for Russian firms Lukoil, Tatneft and Zarubezhneft.
The latest deal was signed by Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak, who is visiting Tehran with a 590-strong business delegation.
Russia and Iran are keen to deepen their economic relationship.
Iran has announced a slew of energy deals with foreign firms in recent weeks, despite uncertainty around the incoming US administration of Donald Trump, who has vowed to take a more confrontational stance toward Tehran.
Last week, Anglo-Dutch giant Shell signed an initial accord to explore two of Iran’s largest oilfields at South Azadegan and Yadavaran, as well as the Kish gas field.
That followed an initial deal with France’s Total last month to develop part of the South Pars gas field – a project worth an estimated $4.8 billion.
But doubts persist over how these deals will be financed so long as Iran remains frozen out of the international finance system by continuing US sanctions.
The government has announced that Iran’s energy infrastructure urgently needs an infusion of foreign cash, technology and know-how.
Russia Keen to Participate in Iran’s Oil, Gas Projects
Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on Tuesday that Moscow is keen to participate in Iran’s oil and gas projects.
He made the remarks in the Iran-Russia trade forum in Tehran.
Iran and Russia will continue cooperation in execution of development projects in the oil and gas sector, the official added.
He said that Iran and Russia will promote cooperation in construction of gas, electric and nuclear power plants.
Iran and Russia are keen to enhance all-out ties, Novak added.
He referred to removal of Islamic Republic’s sanctions and said the ground is now ready for Russia’s investment in Iran’s oil and gas projects.
The two countries enjoy good capacity for promotion of cooperation, Novak added.
He said that the volume of cooperation between the two states is increasing.
Iran and Russia enjoy longstanding cooperation in energy fields and they can work together in fields of construction of nuclear, electric and gas power plants, the minister added.
He said that central banks of Iran and Russia have taken good steps forward resolution of banking problems.
Russia will cooperate with Iran to develop its Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant and electrify its railroads, Novak added.
He said Moscow is ready to sell superjet planes to Iran.
National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) and Russian Gazprom Neft on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation.
Managing Director of the NIGC Hamid-Reza Araqi and Deputy Managing Director of Gazprom Alexander Medvedov signed the deal in the presence of Iran’s Minister of Communications Mahmoud Vaezi and Russian energy minister.
The two sides decided to form five working group with regards to the extent of the working fields. The working groups corresponded and held talks on trade of gas, R&D, production and implementation of the joint projects and gas application.
In the meeting, the projects of investment in Iran were outlined and it was announced that Iran is ready to absorb more than 62 billion dollars investment in the NIGC projects in the coming years.
With lapse of almost one year since the first working session, the two sides signed the MoU based on outcome of their expert sessions.
Tehran will host a 590-member economic delegation from Russia which is to fly to Iran on Sunday.
The visit will be a major step towards implementing the decisions taken by the presidents of the two countries to expand bilateral ties, IRNA reported.
The delegation is headed by Russia‘s Minister of Energy Alexander Novak.
The 13th Iran-Russia Joint Economic Commission is also to meet in the Iranian capital during the Russian delegation’s visit.
Iran’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology Mahmoud Vaezi and the visiting Russian minister are to co-chair the Tehran meeting which is considered as an unprecedented measure towards fostering bilateral relations.
The Russian delegation is scheduled to ink several agreements and hold talks with Iranian officials.
Coincident with the Joint Economic Commission meeting in Tehran, Iran-Russia Energy Commission will hold its first session to review ways to widen bilateral cooperation in that area.
Iran’s ambassador to Moscow said Tehran-Moscow cooperation is witnessing a bright future.
According to reports, Iran and Russia have planned to increase economic relations to an annual $4 billion by the end of 2017.
According to the latest figures, economic exchanges between the two countries grew by 80 percent in first half of 2016 compared to the figure for the same period last year.
Representative of Russian Railways said the transportation company is seeking to set up a representative office in Iran.
Head of the International Cooperation Department at JSC Russian Railways Sergei Stolyarov made the remarks during a speech delivered at the eighth meeting of the Working Group on Iran-Russia cooperation and pointed to the international project pursued by the state-owned railway monopoly Russian Railways (RZD Holding) asserting “a total of 117 subsidiaries are members of the holding which encompasses 25 per cent of total investments made in Russia.”
Stolyarov went on to add that Russian railroads are 85 thousand kilometers long 40 thousand kilometers of which are electric; “RZD covers 45% of goods turnover as well as 26% of passenger services and holds representative offices in 40 countries.”
Russian Railways attaches great importance to ports and the company seeks trade development and presence in global markets by sales and supply of parts and equipment of the infrastructure section as well as implementation of projects and provision of consultation services.
Referring to the significance of Garmsar-Incheh Borun railway, the Russian official asserted “the rail path marks Russia’s key project in Iran as in June last year, our plan to activate Russia’s North-South corridor resulted in successful transport of cargo from India to Russia via Iranian railways.”
On Qazvin-Rasht-Astara railway, Stolyarov said “operation of the railroad is undoubtedly one approach to activation of north-south corridor and holds great significance to Russia.”
Deputy energy minister said a credit line worth five billion dollars has been allocated to Iran by Russians.
Iran’s Deputy Energy Minister Rahim Meidani touched upon details of cooperation between Iran and Russia over discovery of deep water resources in Iran saying “following the signing of a relevant agreement between the two countries, the Russian credit line has been opened recently.”
“A portion of the credit line, which has also been approved by the Iranian Parliament, will be used to launch discovery activities in deep waters of Iran with the participation of Russian companies.”
The official further noted that the discovery project is expected to be worth 250 million dollars asserting “studies have been launched to spot new resources in deep regions of Iran while geophysical studies will be done after identifying the country’s water potentials through surface geological mapping.”
Meidani underlined that the entire process for characterization studies and deep-water exploration is being carried out by local experts stressing “cooperation between Iran and Russia in the field of water exploration reservoirs returns is limited to geophysical activities.”
Deputy energy minister underscored that geophysical studies and drilling of wells in water exploration blocks will be performed with the 250-million-dollar credit line and participation of Russian companies; “studies need to be done with great caution and care since drilling of exploration wells in deep areas required a great amount of money on a yearly basis.”
“Given the Russian’s have provided the Iranian government with the $5-billion credit line, government will be in charge of repaying the resources,” he continued.
Iran’s Tasdid Offshore Development Company (TODC) signed the deal on Sunday which envisages the construction of the drilling rigs over a two-year period in the port city of Khorramshahr, the company’s Managing Director Ehsanollah Mousavi said, reported Press TV.
The project will be financed jointly by Russia and Iran, and put the Islamic Republic among the countries capable of building drilling rigs.
“According to the timetable, domestic share in the construction of the first drilling rig will be 58 percent. This will gradually rise during the implementation of the project as technology transfer into the country takes place,” Mousavi said.
Krasnye Barrikady officials said earlier that Iran will soon make a 15-percent down payment on the $200 million price of the first rig.
The agreement, signed by Mousavi and Krasnye Barrikady CEO Alexander Ilyichev, added a fresh momentum to Iran’s oil and gas development projects, including its massive South Pars scheme.
Iran is developing the South Pars field which the country shares with Qatar in several phases, with US-led sanctions forcing the country to rely on its own capabilities to implement the megaproject.
“When South Pars started, nobody imagined Iran could enter the field of building oil equipment including platforms, installation of offshore pipelines and constructing jackets. But today, Iran has attained these capabilities.
“With the signing of this deal today, Iran’s dream of building jack-ups has also been realized,” Mousavi said.
An oil official has announced that Vitol S.A. of Switzerland is likely to purchase Russian crude to be swapped through Iran’s largest oil terminal in the Caspian Sea.
Despite the seven-year hiatus in oil swaps among Caspian Sea littoral states through Iran’s route, the process has not been resumed yet though negotiations are still underway with countries like Russia, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan Republic.
Meanwhile on Thursday, a Swiss delegation comprising representatives of Vitol S.A. visited facilities and infrastructures of Neka Oil Terminal as Iran’s largest crude terminal in the Caspian Sea.
The visit aimed to resume oil swaps especially in view of the fact that the Swiss firm held cooperation with the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) before the halt in crude swaps.
BP (British Petroleum) is yet another company looking forward to resumption of oil swaps between Caspian Sea stated and the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Hamidreza Shahdoust, a local Iranian Oil Terminals Company (IOTC) official in the city of northern city of Neka, confirmed the visit of Vitol delegation to Neka Oil Terminal adding “experts at the oil trader giant Vitol made a visit to the Iranian terminal aiming to resume oil swaps.”
The official estimated that oil swaps will be resumed from Neka terminal within the next 7 to 14 days as all facilities at the Iranian terminal are prepared for the mission.
“Neka Oil Terminal enjoys a total storage capacity of 120 thousand barrels per day in its 12 tanks,” underlined Shahdoust maintaining “moreover, the project to increase oil swap capacity to 2.5 million barrels per day has kicked off.”
Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh, while pointing to Iran’s readiness for oil swap with Russia, had earlier noted “the Russian side has also voiced willingness for swapping a portion of its oil production through Iran’s route and relevant negotiations are underway.”
“The capacity exists for a maximum swap of 150 thousand oil barrels per day,” underlined Zanganeh stressing “the process would boost Iran’s market share since the replacement is delivered to customers in the Persian Gulf.”
President Masoud Pezeshkian says that Iran has no problem with negotiations, but the tragedies that the Israeli regime has caused in the region and Iran have made the situation critical, stressing that Iran hopes that after passing this crisis, Iran could return to the negotiating table. “Of course, this requires one condition, and that is trust in the negotiation process. The Zionist regime should not be allowed to attack again in the middle of the negotiations.”
President Pezeshkian made the remarks in a virtual interview with American commentator and conservative talk show host Tucker Carlson, which was released on Monday.
The President said that the United States, as an ally of the Israeli regime, “must not allow Israel to ignite the region,” emphasizing that it is not Iran that seeks war but it is the Israeli regime who wants to escalate tensions in the region.
The full interview is as follows:
Carlson: Thank you, Mr. President. It seems that there is currently a pause in the conflict between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America. In your view, how will this situation ultimately end? And how would you like this conflict to be resolved?
President Pezeshkian: “We did not start the war, and we do not wish for any war to continue. From the day I assumed responsibility, my motto has been to foster unity at home and establish peace and tranquility with our neighbors and the world.”
Carlson: You speak of peace, Mr. President. On the other hand, Donald Trump, the President of the United States, believes that the recent U.S. attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities was driven by the conviction that the Islamic Republic of Iran is unwilling to abandon its nuclear program. According to Mr. Trump, achieving peace will not be possible unless Iran gives up this program. Are you willing to forgo the Islamic Republic of Iran’s nuclear program in the pursuit of peace?
President Pezeshkian: “The reality is that since 1992, Netanyahu has consistently tried to portray Iran as pursuing nuclear weapons. Every US president who has come to office has bought this lie. Netanyahu has tried to convince US presidents of this lie — that Iran is seeking a nuclear weapon. We have never pursued nuclear weapons, are not pursuing them, and will never pursue them. This is a religious edict and decree (fatwa) from the Supreme Leader, which has been corroborated by our full cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency. Unfortunately however, their recent conduct disrupted our cooperation.”
Carlson: Does this mean that you confirm the reports indicating that the Islamic Republic of Iran has ceased its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency? Under such circumstances, there would no longer be any way to determine the amount of uranium present, its enrichment level, or percentage — essentially, the international community would have no knowledge of what actions Iran is taking within the framework of its nuclear program. In your view, how can the verification process for Iran’s nuclear program be carried out from now on? And is it possible for other countries to participate in this process?
President Pezeshkian: “Mr. Carlson, we were at the negotiating table. We were in talks; the US President had asked us to engage in talks to establish peace. During those talks, we were told that without US permission, Israel would not launch any attacks. Yet, just before the sixth round — while we were still negotiating — Netanyahu practically dropped a bomb on the negotiating table and destroyed diplomacy. As for verification, we are prepared to engage in talks and agree on verification. We have never evaded verification and remain ready for its resumption. However, following the US strike on our nuclear facilities, many sites and equipment were destroyed and are not easily accessible. We must wait and see whether or not access becomes feasible again.”
Carlson: Reports have been published suggesting that your government believes the International Atomic Energy Agency has spied on Iran’s nuclear facilities and passed classified information to the Zionist regime. Do you endorse this view? And if so, do you have any evidence to support this claim that you would be willing to present to the international community?
President Pezeshkian: regarding trust in the Agency, Israel’s misuse of inspection information gave rise to some distrust. Nevertheless, we have always been ready to cooperate and allowed the IAEA to inspect all sites under its mandate. The mistrust was exacerbated when the Agency’s latest report gave Israel a pretext to launch illegal attacks on our nuclear sites. Regrettably, the IAEA did not even condemn this attack on facilities under its own oversight, which we had accepted under the NPT. From the standpoint of international law, this is unacceptable and has caused serious distrust among our people and lawmakers toward the Agency.
Carlson: You mentioned that the Islamic Republic of Iran has always avoided war and sought to resolve its disputes with the United States through diplomacy. However, this process was suddenly disrupted by an incident. I would now like to ask: Are you willing to make a fresh start on the path of diplomacy once again? In other words, is there a possibility of a “restart” in the negotiations? And if so, in your view, what should an ideal agreement with the United States look like, and on what basis should it be reached?
President Pezeshkian: “In my view, we could have easily resolved our issues through dialogue. The framework for negotiations can be based on international law and the rights of states. We have had — and continue to have — no demand other than respect for international law. It is Netanyahu who has thrown the region into chaos and attempted to torpedo dialogue. We are seeking peace. I believe that in our small world today, human beings must live together in peace and harmony. But we were attacked. Our nation has the ability to defend itself. I believe the US President has a choice: to move the region toward peace and security, or to drag it into forever wars.”
Carlson: Do you have any plans to reenter negotiations with the United States of America — whether those talks are with the current U.S. representative, Mr. Witkoff, or someone else? And if there are no such plans, in your view, what might happen if this situation continues?
President Pezeshkian: “We have no problem with negotiation. But the atrocities Israel has committed in the region and against our country, and its war crimes, including assassinating our off-duty commanders in their homes, murdering our scientists along with their families and children, killing innocent civilians, and bombing pregnant women have caused a crisis. To kill one individual, they brought down entire buildings, burying innocent people under the rubble. We hope that once we overcome this travesty, it will once again be possible to return to the negotiating table. However, that has a prerequisite: confidence in the negotiation process. Israel must not be allowed to attack again right in the middle of talks and ignite a new war.”
Carlson: Do you believe that the Israeli government has attempted to assassinate you?
President Pezeshkian: “There were attempts, and actions were taken. But we believe that if God wills, a person will survive — and if not, one could perish even while walking. We are ready to defend our people, our independence, and the freedom of our land to the last breath, and we are not afraid of death. But in the world, we live in, destabilizing the region by shedding blood, committing murder, looting, and evil illusions is truly disgraceful.”
Carlson: If you permit, I would like to return to this topic once more. So far, there is no official report indicating that the United States of America has attempted to assassinate you, nor has this matter been confirmed by any official institutions. Could you please provide further clarification on this issue?
President Pezeshkian: “This was carried out by Israel and not by the United States. We were in an internal meeting reviewing our programs when they bombed our building, using the information gathered by their spies. But when God does not will it, nothing happens. We have never feared death or martyrdom in the path of our country’s independence and dignity. In the face of Israel’s imposed war, our people and homeland achieved greater unity and cohesion. Iran is a civilization, and the Iranian people may have disagreements on various issues, but every Iranian, wherever they may be in the world, knows the value of their country’s territorial integrity and will defend it. My advice to the US government is: do not get dragged into a war fueled by Netanyahu’s satanic aspirations and his acts of genocide. It would start the real forever wars, one that brings nothing but terror and insecurity to the region.”
Carlson: Many people in the United States still fear Iran and are concerned that Iran might attack the U.S. with a nuclear bomb. They see videos in which some people in Iran chant “Death to America” and refer to the United States as the “Great Satan.” In your opinion, are these concerns realistic? And should the American people be afraid of Iran?
President Pezeshkian: “I don’t believe that this is an accurate image of Iran. In the past 200 years, not once has Iran attacked another country. The chanting of “Death to America,” by no means refers to the American people, or even officials. It means “Death to crime,” “Death to killing,” “Death to supporting massacres,” and “Death to policies that destabilize the region.” Have you ever seen an Iranian commit a terrorist act in the US? I haven’t. To the best of our knowledge, no Iranian has ever pursued terror or unrest. But there were others in the region, who were trained by the United States according to US President himself, namely, Daesh (ISIS), who brought terror and crimes not only to the region but even to the US, and tarnished the global image of our religion and beliefs. Our “Death to…” slogan is against crime and insecurity — not human beings. Any actor who supports crime and insecurity is condemned by our people. It’s not against anyone as a human being.”
Carlson: Two of Iran’s prominent sources of emulation and senior clerics have issued fatwas against Donald Trump, the President of the United States. In your view, what is the meaning and significance of these fatwas?
President Pezeshkian: “As far as I know, no fatwa has been issued against any specific individual. The fatwa that was published — which, I should clarify, has no relation to the government or the Supreme Leader — simply states that insulting religious figures or beliefs is, from a doctrinal perspective, condemned and unacceptable. This fatwa is not directed against the US President or any other particular individual. The scholars were expressing their views, but certainly never meant or implied murder or threats.”
Carlson: Considering that a significant number of Iranian nationals live in the United States, some believe that these individuals are so-called “sleepers” or undercover agents waiting to receive orders from you to carry out violent or terrorist actions within U.S. soil. Would you like to send a message to them from here, asking them to refrain from any violent actions on United States territory?
President Pezeshkian: “To be honest, many of the points you’ve raised are things I’m hearing for the first time as an Iranian. Have you ever seen anything other than science, knowledge, civility, and empathy from Iranians living in the US? These are images Israel and those who try to foster conflict and instability promote. They try to frighten the public and decision-makers in order to drag America into a war that has no benefit for it.”
Carlson: In the early days of the revolution, it seemed that Iran had some economic relations with Israel, and it is even said that at that time, some weapons were transferred from Israel to Iran. What factor caused such a fundamental change in the relations between Iran and Israel? And who was responsible for this change of course?
President Pezeshkian: “What has happened in full view of the world at the hands of Israel is entirely clear. In Gaza, Netanyahu bombs children, women, schools, and universities in cold blood. He has cut off water, food, and medicine. These actions constitute genocide. This behavior is rejected by the people of the region. To my knowledge, Iran has never acquired weapons from Israel and has never sought war. These wars were imposed on us. We did not start the war with Iraq. Today as well, Israel has attacked us. We did not seek war, but unfortunately, they are trying to even drag the US into this conflict.”
Carlson: Do you believe that, as a result of diplomatic exchanges between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, it is possible to achieve a world in which American companies once again invest in Iran, sanctions are lifted, and ultimately peace is established? Is such a situation your intended goal?
President Pezeshkian: “Since I took office, I have first tried to strengthen unity and cohesion within the country and then establish healthy and constructive relations with our neighbors. In a conversation I had with the Supreme Leader, he indicated that American investors can operate in Iran without any barrier. This is the view of our beloved Leader of the Revolution. Unfortunately, it is Israel that is obstructing peace in the region. In my view, the U.S. President — Mr. Trump — can either rein in Israel and help move the region toward peace and security, or fall into the trap of Netanyahu and his forever wars. This decision is up to the U.S. President to make. We have always been — and still are — ready for economic, industrial, and commercial cooperation with Americans. But it is the U.S. sanctions that have prevented their presence in our country.”
Carlson: Mr. President, as my final question, may I ask: In the event of a broader war against the Islamic Republic of Iran, how likely do you think it is that Iran’s allies, including China and Russia, will support Iran economically or militarily? And do you expect such support?
President Pezeshkian: “What matters most to us is our belief in God and our convictions. We have the capability to defend ourselves, and if necessary, we will stand our ground to our last breath to protect our country and territorial integrity. We are not seeking war. We have repeatedly said that we are not pursuing nuclear weapons. But a false perception has taken root in the minds of some American politicians — a misperception that Netanyahu, with his warmongerings, continues to reinforce. Any war in this region will set the entire Middle East ablaze with fire and insecurity. If the US President wants such a future, he can continue down this path. But if he seeks peace — as I believe we should all move toward peace and stability — he must not allow Israel to ignite the region. The US President can end war and bloodshed by containing Netanyahu. This decision depends on the policies of the US President,” Pezeshkian said while commenting on US President Donald Trump’s policies on the region, including the Zionist regime and its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.”
Carlson: Mr. President, I sincerely thank you for the opportunity you have given us and for the time you dedicated to sharing your views and perspectives.
President Pezeshkian: “I thank you for the opportunity to share with you what we hold in our hearts and believe in. I hope the people and government of the United States will pursue and realize peace and tranquility for their country and the region. Thank you for this opportunity.”
The Secretary of Iran’s Nanotechnology Development Headquarters Saeed Sarkar on Sunday announced the production of 1,200 items of nano products in 18 fields of industry.
He made the remarks on the sidelines of the 13th edition of Iran Nano Exhibition on Sunday and stated that the products showcased at the exhibition is to familiarize different sectors of the country with the domestic capabilities and potentials.
It is predicted that trade and economic delegations from 10 countries will take part in this edition of the exhibition with the aim of getting familiar with the salient technological achievements in the field of nano, Sarkar added.
He pointed to the countries interested in participating in this exhibition and added that these business delegations from the countries including Brunei, India, Mexico, Russia and Indonesia which have shown vehement interest to take part in the exhibition.
It is hoped that the trade and business delegations will reach an agreement with the Iranian companies in order to spur country’s exports, he emphasized.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the Secretary pointed to Iran’s rank in the production of science and technology in the region and the world and added that Iran is ranked first among the regional and Islamic countries in the field of nano-science production.
Iran also is ranked 4th in the world after China, India and the United States, he continued.
Currently, over 1,200 nano-based products have been produced in 18 fields of industry which have had a significant impact on updating and empowering industries, he added.
The 13th edition of Iran Nano Exhibition opened in the presence of some Iranian officials including Iranian agriculture minister Javad Sadatinejad in Tehran International Fairground in the north of the capital on Saturday.
Iran’s trade with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states in the spring saw 29 percent increase, said a senior official in Iran’s Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance.
Majid Karimi, director-general of financial and commercial markets study office at the ministry, told IRNA on Saturday that Iran’s non-oil trade with 11 member states of the SCO reach 9.85 billion dollars in spring.
He said that Iran’s non-oil exports to those countries amounted to 5.5 billion dollars with 20 percent increase compared to the same period last year and its imports accounted to 4.35 billion dollars up by 41 percent.
China, India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Russia, and Uzbekistan topped Iran’s list of exports destinations among the SCO members this spring, according to Karimi.
He highlighted the presence of China and Russia in the SCO as the two permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and India as an emerging economy adds to the significance of Iran’s accession to the regional organization.
Karimi said that the SCO can remove the dollar and euro from transactions between member states and plan for a single currency in the future, noting that Iran has offered using insurances and financial channels.
The SCO can also adopt proper approaches on sustainable collaborations on energy, as two world’s biggest energy producers (Russia and Iran) and two world’s biggest energy consumers (China and India) are members of the organization.
